As a sophomore quarterback at the University of Alabama in 1984, Mike Shula was a member of the last Crimson Tide team to lose to Vanderbilt. When the Tide opens SEC play this Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium (2:30 p.m. CT/FSS), Shula will try to avoid becoming the first UA head coach since Ray Perkins to absorb a loss at the hands of the Commodores.

Excluding the 1993 forfeit victory that Vanderbilt was awarded as a part of Alabama's NCAA sanctions that year, the Tide has since reeled off 18 straight wins on the field and currently leads the series 56-19-4.